Damien Duff, the former Chelsea winger, found himself in a comical situation while trying to reach out to his old manager, José Mourinho, to share the joy of winning the League of Ireland title with Shelbourne.
With excitement in the air, Duff made a call to Mourinho, but he was met with silence on the other end.
As the final day of the League of Ireland season approached, Duff’s team held a slender two-point lead over their rivals, Shamrock Rovers.
On that decisive day, Shamrock secured a win, putting pressure on Shelbourne to clinch their title by defeating Derry City, who sat in fourth place.
A Nail-Biting Finish
In a thrilling conclusion, Shelbourne secured their victory with a crucial goal in the 84th minute, courtesy of Harry Wood, a former youth player from Manchester United.
This goal not only sealed the match but also marked Shelbourne’s first league title in 18 years.
After the match, Duff had promised his players a €500 (approximately £420) bonus for celebrations if Mourinho didn’t answer his call.
When Mourinho failed to pick up, Duff humorously declared he’d go “double or quits” on the next attempt, suggesting jokingly that perhaps his former boss had finally responded in spirit.
Echoes of Chelsea
Reflecting on the season, Duff noted that the mentality of his Shelbourne squad reminded him of the grit and determination he experienced during his time with Chelsea’s title-winning team in 2005.
“I died on the pitch for Jose, that’s what I’ve always done,” he shared with the Irish Independent.
Despite the challenges and criticisms faced by Chelsea, he embraced that same fighting spirit with his current team.
“I told the lads that the last time I felt that mentality was with the Chelsea 2005 group.
We’d sweat blood and tears for each other, and I hadn’t tasted that since but I’ve felt it with these guys for the last few years.”
Mourinho’s Motivation
Interestingly, Mourinho played a pivotal role in the lead-up to this championship match.
He sent Duff a private message that Duff shared with his squad just two hours before the game.
This message outlined what it takes to win as both a team and an individual, and it left a lasting impact on the players.
“Why José?” Duff explained, “We’ve tried to build a siege mentality, just like he did. It would be madness not to tap into his experience.”
Throughout the week, Duff shared powerful lyrics and motivational quotes on their Instagram page, culminating in the stirring message from Mourinho during their team meeting.
Beyond Football
The influence didn’t stop with Mourinho.
Duff also tapped into the wisdom of rugby legend Sir Ian McGeechan, the former Scotland and Lions coach, to further inspire his players.
Under Duff’s leadership, Shelbourne finished the season with 63 points from 36 matches, narrowly ahead of Shamrock Rovers, who ended with 61 points, and St. Patrick’s Athletic with 59.
Since taking charge of Shelbourne in November 2021, Duff has proven to be a capable leader.
His coaching journey began after retiring from professional play in December 2015, initially working with the U15 side at Shamrock, before joining the backroom staff of the Irish national team and later coaching at Celtic.
A Triumphant Return
With Shelbourne’s dramatic season finale, Duff brought the club back to championship glory for the first time since 2006, and now, all eyes are on what comes next for this rising football manager.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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